Grades

Grade Components

Exams: 75%

Online Homework: 10%

Written Homework and Quizzes: 10%

Technology Project: 5%

Grading Scale

A: 90 – 100      B: 80 – 89        C: 70 – 79        D: 60 – 69        F: < 60

Where can I find my grades?

Grades will be posted in Blackboard.

What will we do in this class?

Exams: There will be four exams. Exam 3 will be a cumulative exam, and Exam 4 will cover material in the last unit. If your grade on Exam 3 is higher than your lowest grade on Exams 1 and 2, I will replace the lowest grade with your Exam 3 grade, but this will not apply to zeros given for reasons of academic dishonesty. There are no retakes or makeup exams except for in extenuating circumstances. If you know you will miss an exam, you must let me know as soon as possible to see if other arrangements are possible. Otherwise, a missed exam will receive a zero.

Online Homework: Online homework will be assigned using MyLab Math. The assignment for a section will be due on the Monday following the completion of the in-class discussion covering that section. You should redo the problems until you receive full credit to help ensure that you are learning the material. A 20% penalty will be deducted from any problems completed after the due date. I will drop your lowest online homework grade.

Written Homework and Quizzes: Textbook problems are assigned for each section we cover. You will submit written homework weekly. Problems for a section are due on the Monday following the completion of the in-class discussion covering that section. Written homework assignments will be graded for completion. To receive full credit, all problems must be done, in order, with all work neatly shown. Write clearly and organize your work so it is very clear that you have completed all assigned problems. A 20% penalty will be deducted from any problems completed after the due date. I will drop your lowest written homework grade.

At most once per week, a quiz will be given in class. Each quiz will consist of one or two problems similar to problems on the recent homework. A quiz given on a Monday may include problems from the sections of homework due that evening, so do your best to have the homework done before Monday. Quizzes will be peer-graded in class, but the grade in the gradebook will be a completion grade. Quizzes can not be made up unless you let me know in advance that you will miss a class for a good reason (illness, emergency, etc.).

Technology Project: Details of a project utilizing technology (such as Desmos.com, spreadsheets, etc.) will be announced during class and by email.

What happens if I miss something?

Dropped Grade Policy: The lower of your grades on Exams 1 and 2 can be replaced by your grade on Exam 3. Otherwise, no grades will be dropped.

Late Work Policy: Late homework will receive a 20% penalty. The reason for penalizing late work is to motivate you to do it on time and keep up with the material, which will help you learn the material more effectively. I hope that the penalty is small enough that you will still find it worthwhile to complete late assignments, though – better late than never. Quizzes can not be made up except in the case of absences that are excused in advance.

Missed Exam Policy: If you know you will miss an exam for an acceptable reason, you must let me know in advance. If you miss an exam due to a documented emergency, I will do my best to work with you to make it up. Otherwise, you will receive a zero for any missed exam.

Attendance/Class Participation: Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance is expected of all students.  If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.

In the event the college or campus closes due to unforeseen circumstances (for example, severe weather or other emergency), the student is responsible for communicating with their professor during the closure and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor as a result of class sessions being missed.

Required Materials 

This is a First Day™ class. The cost of required course materials, including an online version of the textbook and software access, has been added to your tuition and fees bill.     

Textbook: Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 3rd Edition by Briggs, Cochran, Gillette, & Schulz. Pearson Publishing (MyLab software) ISBN: 9780134763644

Online Component: MyLab may be required for one or all of the Calculus courses. Access to the software is included with the First Day version of the text.

Calculator: You must have access to technology that enables you to (1) Graph a function, (2) Find the zeroes of a function. (3) Do numerical integration. Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of graphing calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use. Other calculator brands can also be used. Your instructor will determine the extent of calculator use in your class section.

Other Technology: Access to a webcam and microphone are required for this course. Eligible students can check out required technology at https://www.austincc.edu/students/student-technology-services.

Course Calendar

Note: Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Blackboard Announcement. 

Important Dates

Last day to withdraw: April 27

Holidays: January 19, March 16-22, April 5  

(Please note these are the ONLY holidays this semester.)

Course Objectives

1. Find limits of functions (graphically, numerically and algebraically)
2. Analyze and apply the notions of continuity and differentiability to algebraic and transcendental functions.
3. Determine derivatives by a variety of techniques including explicit differentiation, implicit differentiation, and logarithmic differentiation. Use these derivatives to study the characteristics of curves. Determine derivatives using implicit differentiation and use to study characteristics of a curve.
4. Construct detailed graphs of nontrivial functions using derivatives and limits.
5. Use basic techniques of integration to find particular or general antiderivatives.
6. Demonstrate the connection between area and the definite integral.
7. Apply the Fundamental theorem of calculus to evaluate definite integrals.
8. Use differentiation and integration to solve real world problems such as rate of change, optimization, and area problems.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

1. Solve tangent and area problems using the concepts of limits, derivatives, and integrals.
2. Draw graphs of algebraic and transcendental functions considering limits, continuity, and differentiability at a point.
3. Determine whether a function is continuous and/or differentiable at a point using limits.
4. Use differentiation rules to differentiate algebraic and transcendental functions.
5. Identify appropriate calculus concepts and techniques to provide mathematical models of real-world situations and determine solutions to applied problems.
6. Evaluate definite integrals using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between derivatives and integrals using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

General Education Competencies

1. Critical Thinking: gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information is covered in every SLO. 
2. Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning: applying mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods is covered in every SLO. 
3. Technology Skills: using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information is covered in SLOs # 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. 
4. Written, Oral and Visual Communication: communicating effectively adapting to purpose, structure, audience and medium is covered in every SLO.